Pedestrian protection assembly

ABSTRACT

A pedestrian protection assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a bumper support beam rigidly secured to the frame of the vehicle. A bumper is supported on the support beam and spaced forwardly thereof by a resilient foam pad. The bumper includes a ramped rib engaged with the support beam for moving the bumper from a normal position to an impact position. A grill portion extends downwardly from the bumper and supports a facia chin below the bumper. A lower tubular support beam further supports the facia chin on the frame of the vehicle. The bumper moves rearwardly against the bumper support beam in response to front impact of the vehicle and the ramped rib forces the bumper downwardly to force the facia chin and lower tubular support beam downward and forward of the bumper.

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No.60/204,637, filed May 16, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The subject invention relates to a pedestrian protection assembly for anautomotive vehicle.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Automotive vehicles are known to include a front bumper secured to theframe of the vehicle for protecting the vehicle upon impact with anotherobject or pedestrian. The front of the vehicle may also include a grillportion extending from the bumper for providing air circulation to theengine of the vehicle and decorative styling to the front of thevehicle. The grill portion may also support a lower spoiler fordirecting air flow to improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle and alsoaccent the styling of the vehicle. Safety and pedestrian protectioncaused by the incidental impact of the vehicle with a pedestrian arealso a concern for the design of the vehicle. Should the vehicleaccidentally impact with a pedestrian, the front bumper tends to impactthe pedestrian in the lower leg adjacent the knee of the pedestrian. Dueto the height of the bumper from the ground supporting the vehicle, theimpact of the bumper with the lower leg of the pedestrian may result inundesirable buckling of the pedestrian's knee and potentially causeundesirable injury.

Therefore, it is desirable to improve the structural design of the frontof the vehicle and bumper area to provide pedestrian protectionresulting from vehicle impact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention relates to a pedestrian protection assemblysupported by a bumper support beam of an automotive vehicle comprising abumper operatively coupled to the bumper support beam. The bumper has anouter shell spaced from the support beam for supporting a resilient foampad and a ramped rib projecting from the outer shell for engaging thebumper support beam. A grill portion extends from a first end connectedto the outer shell of the bumper to a second end spaced below the bumperand the bumper support beam. A facia chin includes a top portion securedto the second end of the grill portion, a bottom portion and a frontface. The assembly also includes a lower support member for supportingthe facia chin between the top portion, bottom portion and front face.The ramped rib engages with the bumper support beam in response to animpact force applied against the outer shell of the bumper toautomatically force the facia chin downwardly with the front face spacedforward of the bumper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as thesame becomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a pedestrian protectionassembly according to the subject invention;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of apedestrian protection assembly;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional side view of the embodiment of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 is another alternative embodiment of a pedestrian protectionassembly;

FIG. 4 is yet another alternative embodiment of a pedestrian protectionassembly having a moveable structural member; and

FIG. 5 is still another alternative embodiment of a pedestrianprotection assembly having another moveable structural member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a pedestrian protection assembly for an automotivevehicle is generally shown at 10. The assembly 10 includes rigid lowersupport 12, typically of a stamped material or tubular structuralmember, which is fixedly secured to the frame of the vehicle (notshown). The lower support 12 supports a portion of a radiator of thevehicle in a conventionally known manner. The assembly 10 furtherincludes a front grill member 14 spaced forward of the lower support 12and also fixedly secured to the frame of the vehicle as is commonlyknown in the art. The front grill member 14 is located in the frontportion of the vehicle, typically below the vehicle bumper area and istypically of plastic construction. A facia chin 16 is fixedly secured tothe lower portion of the grill 14 by any type of suitable fasteners,i.e. rivets, screws, plastic clips etc. The facia chin 16 of FIG. 1 isgenerally tubular in cross-section and includes an upper portion 18connected to the grill 14, a lower portion 20 spaced opposite the upperportion 18, a front face 22, and a rear face 24 spaced opposite thefront face 22. The assembly 10 also includes a rigid duct member 26bridging the gap and fixedly secured between the facia chin 16 and thelower support 12. More specifically, the duct member 26 includes a firstend 28 fixedly secured to the rear face 24 of the facia chin 16, by afastener shown at 29, and a second end 30 fixedly secured to the lowersupport 12. The duct member 26 includes structural ribs 32 extendinglongitudinally between the first end 28 and the second end 30 toincrease the structural rigidity of the duct member 26 between the faciachin 16 and the lower support 12.

In operation, should the front of the vehicle contact a pedestrian, thefacia chin 16 is positioned to contact the lower leg portion of thepedestrian. Traditionally, the bumper of the vehicle would impact thepedestrian around the knee area and potentially cause knee buckling.Prior facia chins 16 were pliable and would potentially collapse uponimpact with the lower leg of the pedestrian. The assembly 10 of thepresent invention is structurally rigid due to the duct member 26 suchthat when the facia chin 16 contacts the lower leg of the pedestrian,the pedestrian will more likely be lifted to avoid knee bucket or othermore serious leg injury. The assembly 10 provides a uniform stiffnessacross the front of the vehicle. Additionally, the attachment betweenthe duct member 26 and the lower support 12 may be designed to tear awaywhen the force exceeds a predetermined amount and prior to the maximumstrength of the lower support 12 to prevent damage thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, an alternative pedestrian protectionassembly is generally shown at 40. The pedestrian protection assembly 40includes a facia chin 42 having a front portion 44 adjacent the frontend of the vehicle and a rear portion 46 fixedly secured to a rigidlower support member 48. A contoured box-like spoiler 50 is fixedlysecured to the facia chin 42 between the front portion 44 and the rearportion 46. The spoiler 50 similarly includes a longitudinal, structuralreinforcing rib 52 for increasing the structural rigidity of the spoiler50. The spoiler 50 is rigid in the fore and aft direction, however, mayflex upwardly to allow ground clearance should the front of the vehicleapproach a ramped surface. The operation of the spoiler 50 is equivalentto the operation of the assembly 10 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, another alternative embodiment of a pedestrianprotection assembly is shown at 60. The assembly 60 is a combination ofthe structure of FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B. Specifically, the assembly 60includes a front facia chin 62 having a front face 64, a lower portion66 and an upper portion 68 which may be attached to the grill (notshown). An arcuate-shaped front spoiler 70 is connected to the lowerportion 66 of the facia chin 62. The assembly 60 further includes arigid duct member 72 extending between the facia chin 62 and the lowersupport member 74. More specifically, the duct member 72 includes aforward end 76 secured to the lower portion 66 of the facia chin 62 anda rearward end 78 secured to the lower support member 74. The ductmember 72 also includes structural reinforcing ribs 80 extendinglongitudinally between the forward end 76 and the rearward end 78. Theduct member 72 provides structural rigidity to the facia chin 62 uponimpact with a pedestrian while the spoiler 70 is allowed to flexupwardly upon impact with a ramp surface by the vehicle.

Referring to FIG. 4, still another alternative embodiment of apedestrian protection assembly is shown at 100. The assembly 100includes an upper bumper support beam 102 and a lower tubular support104. The upper bumper support beam 102 is rigidly supported by the frameof the vehicle. The lower tubular support 104 is spaced below the upperbumper support beam 102. The assembly 100 further includes a bumper 106operatively coupled to the upper bumper support beam 102 and movablebetween a normal position, shown in solid lines, and an impact position,shown in dashed lines. More specifically, the bumper 106 includes anouter shell 108 having a front face 109 and a bottom portion 111. Asloped, or ramped, rib 110 extends between the front face 109 of theouter shell 108 and the upper bumper support beam 102. A foam pad 112 issupported between the front face 109 and the support beam 102. A grill114 extends downwardly from the bottom portion 111 of the bumper 106 andsupports a generally U-shaped facia chin 116. The facia chin 116 isfurther supported by the lower tubular support 104.

In operation, should the vehicle contact a pedestrian with the bumper106 in the normal position, the bumper 106 will be impacted first by thepedestrian and forced rearwardly against the upper bumper support beam102. The ramped rib 110 will ride along the support beam 102 and forcethe bumper 106 downwardly as it travels rearwardly along the supportbeam 102. This rearward and downward movement of the bumper 106 forcesthe grill 114, and therefore, the facia chin 116 and lower tubularsupport 104 downwardly as shown in dashed lines. The facia chin 116 isnow positioned forward of the bumper 106 to contact the lower legportion of the pedestrian, below the knee, to reduce knee buckle andother injury to the pedestrian. Therefore, initial leg impact by thepedestrian is with the bumper 106. This initial leg impact forces thebumper 106 rearwardly and downwardly by the contact of the ramped rib110 with the beam 102. Additionally, the impact forces may be absorbedby the foam pad 112, and thus, reduced by the movement of the bumper106. The facia chin 116 is then moved downwardly by the bumper 106 priorto any impact by the pedestrian.

Finally, referring to FIG. 5, still another alternative embodiment of apedestrian protection assembly is shown at 120. The assembly 120 issimilar to the facia chin shown in FIG. 4 wherein a facia chin 122 issupported by the lower portion of a grill 124. The facia chin 122includes a U-shaped outer shell 126 having a front face 128, a topportion 130 connected to the grill 124, and a bottom portion 132. Thefacia chin 122 is further support by a tubular support beam 134. Thefacia chin 122 includes a chin reinforcement structure 136 projectingfrom the outer shell 126 toward the support beam 134. The reinforcementstructure 136 includes a ramped surface 138 engaged with the supportbeam 134.

In operation, when the front face 128 contacts the lower leg of apedestrian, the facia chin 122 will be forced rearwardly toward thesupport beam 134. The ramped surface 138 will ride against the supportbeam 134 forcing the beam 134 downwardly to the position shown in dashedlines. Therefore, the impact force F is absorbed by the movement of thefacia chin 122 and the rigid support beam 134 is lowered for furtherimpact with the lower leg below the knee portion of the pedestrian.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is tobe understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended tobe in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Manymodification and variations of the present invention are possible inlight of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood thatwithin the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practicedother than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pedestrian protection assembly supportedbetween a front grill member and lower support of an automotive vehiclecomprising: a box-like facia chin adapted to be fixedly secured to thegrill member and having a front face spaced from an opposing rear face;and a duct member fixedly secured to said rear face of said facia chinand adapted to be fixedly secured to the lower support whereby saidpedestrian protection assembly provides a rigid lower impact structureduring fore/aft vehicle impact with a structure.
 2. A pedestrianprotection assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said duct memberincludes at least one structural rib extending between said facia chinand the lower support for providing structural rigidity to saidpedestrian protection assembly.
 3. A pedestrian protection assembly asset forth in claim 2 wherein said facia chin further includes an upperportion adapted to fixedly secure said facia chin to the grill memberand a lower portion extending between said front and rear face to closesaid box-like facia chin.
 4. A pedestrian protection assembly supportedby a bumper support beam of an automotive vehicle comprising: a bumperoperatively coupled to the bumper support beam, said bumper having anouter shell spaced from the support beam for supporting a resilient foampad and a ramped rib projecting from said outer shell for engaging thebumper support beam; a grill portion extending from a first endconnected to said outer shell of said bumper to a second end spacedbelow said bumper and the bumper support beam; a facia chin having a topportion secured to said second end of said grill portion, a bottomportion and a front face; and a lower support member for supporting saidfacia chin between said top portion, bottom portion and said front face;wherein said ramped rib engages with the bumper support beam in responseto an impact force applied against said outer shell of said bumper toautomatically force said facia chin downwardly with said front facespaced forward of said bumper.
 5. A pedestrian protection assembly asset forth in claim 4 wherein said outer shell includes a front face anda bottom portion for supporting said grill portion, said ramped ribextends upwardly from said bottom portion between said front face andsaid bumper support beam for automatically forcing said facia chindownwardly in response to said impact force moving said outer shell froma normal position with said front face spaced from said bumper supportbeam to an impact position with said front face moved toward said bumpersupport beam.
 6. A pedestrian protection assembly as set forth in claim5 wherein said foam pad is seated between said front face of said outershell and said bumper support beam for absorbing energy from said impactforce upon movement of said bumper from said normal position to saidimpact position.
 7. A pedestrian protection assembly supported by abumper support beam of an automotive vehicle comprising: a bumperoperatively coupled to the bumper support beam, said bumper having anouter shell spaced from the support beam for supporting a resilient foampad; a grill portion extending from a first end connected to said outershell of said bumper to a second end spaced below said bumper and thebumper support beam; a facia chin having a top portion secured to saidsecond end of said grill portion, a bottom portion and a front face;said facia chin further including a ramped reinforcing rib extendingfrom said bottom portion to said top portion; and a lower support memberfor supporting said facia chin between said top portion, bottom portionand said front face; wherein said ramped rib engages with said lowersupport member in response to an impact force applied against said faciachin to automatically force said facia chin downwardly for fore/aftvehicle impact with a structure.
 8. A pedestrian protection assembly asset forth in claim 7 wherein said ramped rib extends from said frontface toward said lower support member for providing structuralreinforcement to said facia chin to receive said impact force.